I still feel like unschooling is best, but I've been feeling like I need some structure for myself. My oldest is turning five in September and we are sending her to a preschool for three afternoons a week. But when she's home I still consider us homeschooling, since otherwise she'd be in public school.
I just feel like I want to put a little more planning on structure into days for my self, to help keep me motivated to do fun and engaging things with them. Mostly they just free-range, but sometimes it feels like they need a teensy bit more structure than we have.
I'd like to find some resources on Nature-based curriculum with maybe a Waldorfy spin. Not a curriculum to buy, just something to help me put together a plan and stick to it.
In the past I've gathered some resources and tools (such as books on yoga and outdoor activities, and kid-sized baking and gardening tools) but it's hard to keep them organized where I can get to them, and it's hard to motivate myself to do activities.
I'm just rambling now.
Does anyone have trouble keeping organized and motivated or sticking to plan? How do you keep yourself going?
I'm not sure about Waldorf-y type stuff, but have you looked at online curriculum guides like www.amblesideonline.com? Having it on the computer may be a bit more motivating than dusting off a book every time. (or you could take my approach and leave the books on the coffee table so they're always in the way and begging for attention
I think it's quite common for people to have trouble keeping organized and motivated to act. Writing things down on charts is a big help. But keep in mind that your child is still very, very young - so it's not as if you need to be doing a whole lot at this point. Making one set time of the week your games time, one your arts and crafts time, one your science time, one your library visit time, certain hours your snuggle together and read to them time, etc., might give you the structure you need - especially if it's on a big, visible chart where they can see it and remind you.
Here's my (non-commercial) page on preschool/kindergarten - underneath the box of articles are annotated links to lots of webpages that have fun and educational activities suggested. My own article at the top of the page has lots of suggestions for activities too. - Lillian
I checked out the Charlotte Mason stuff, but I was alarmed when I looked at the reader list for year 1. In my personal (pagan) opinion, I don't consider the Bible an important reading material. Are there any other similar curriculum guides that aren't based in religion?
I really like the besthomeschooling site, so I'll have to read that article more thoroughly.
Originally Posted by Pam_and_Abigail
Are there any other similar curriculum guides that aren't based in religion?
You might enjoy Rebecca Rupp's guide - Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School - "A detailed guide to standard subjects generally covered by schools, with suggestions for good books and resources that can be used." She's a wonderful resource, writes an ongoing resource column for Home Education Magazine, and is also author of the amazing 880 page reference book,The Complete Home Learning Source Book. But she'd be the first to say her book is meant only as a very loose reference to what is generally offered rather than what should be offered. In other words, her philosophy is to tailor it to your own child. Two of her sons are in college now, by the way - and one has graduated.
Originally Posted by Pam_and_Abigail
I checked out the Charlotte Mason stuff, but I was alarmed when I looked at the reader list for year 1. In my personal (pagan) opinion, I don't consider the Bible an important reading material. Are there any other similar curriculum guides that aren't based in religion?
We're a VERY secular family, but we still like the ambleside site. We just don't do the books that don't appeal to us for whatever reason (the Bible being one of those books). Keep in mind that you can always take what you like and leave the rest...that applies to any curriculum, not just ambleside.
I have a gifted 4.5 year old, and we use a hodgepodge of approaches. For outloud reading, we do books from Ambleside Years O and 1. For her reading to me (she's at a third grade level), we use the old McGuffey readers (excellent, published in the late 1800s...and very Christian but I just skip the lessons with Christian content...there aren't that many). For math, we use Singapore. For history and geography, we're doing Pearsons and following the Core Knowledge suggestions (free lesson plans at www.coreknowledge.org). For science, we're starting Real Science for Kids Chemistry Prelevel One, as well as the core knowledge sequence and lots of Read and Find Out Science books. We watch Chinese DVDs and ASL DVDs. I go over Spanish with them (using Muzzy) and dd1 "plays" with French Rosetta Stone. She also does Handwriting without tears for a few minutes each day. We're also outside a lot -- I strongly believe in at least 3-4 straight hours of unstructured free time in nature each day, more if the day is nice (a la Charlotte Mason).
Just research different methods and approaches for different subjects. Your child is very young, as is mine, and may or may not be ready for a lot of structure (mine thrives on a lot of structure...but must move about every 15 minutes, she's very very energetic...so I add a lot of movement and play to our lessons).
oh yes -- check out www.letteroftheweek.com. The site contains a few different types of (free) curriculum for young kids, based on subject.
You could also look into FIAR. It's basically just reading great books & expanding upon them. You can do as many or as few activities(science, history, geography, art, etc..) to go along with it.
Originally Posted by Pam_and_Abigail
I checked out the Charlotte Mason stuff, but I was alarmed when I looked at the reader list for year 1. In my personal (pagan) opinion, I don't consider the Bible an important reading material. Are there any other similar curriculum guides that aren't based in religion?
I really like the besthomeschooling site, so I'll have to read that article more thoroughly.
Thanks everyone!
I am also pagan and we do Charlotte Mason. Have you looked at SimplyCharlotteMason.com?
On their curriculum guide the Bible is separated from the Literature so it is easy to take out. And for History we use Story of the World instead of their recommendations.
There is also a Secular Charlotte Mason Yahoo Group.
I was going to suggest Ambleside as well. We just skip the bible.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mothering Forum
16.5M posts
285.1K members
Since 1996
A forum community dedicated to all mothers and inclusive family living enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about nurturing, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!